Is phage therapy a solution to Netherton Syndrome?

Netherton Syndrome (NS) is a rare genetic disorder that significantly weakens the skin’s barrier, making patients highly susceptible to chronic infections and allergic reactions. Standard treatments are often ineffective due to bacterial resistance and severe drug allergies, leaving patients with limited options for managing their condition.

One such patient with Netherton Syndrome experienced frequent hospitalizations—every two months—due to recurrent infections. The situation was further complicated by the patient’s severe allergic reactions to most skincare products, which made general skincare nearly impossible.

Netherton Syndrome

This case highlights a groundbreaking development: the successful use of bacteriophage therapy to control chronic infections in a patient with Netherton Syndrome. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria. They offer a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, especially in cases where bacteria have become resistant.

In this first documented case of phage therapy for Netherton Syndrome, the patient received phage treatment both externally, in liquid and cream forms, and orally. Initially, two phage preparations—Pyobacteriophage and Staphylococcus bacteriophage—were used. Over the course of treatment, the patient showed significant improvement, suggesting that periodic phage therapy could be a viable long-term solution for infection control.

While the long-term use of phage therapy raises concerns about potential immune system responses, recent studies indicate that therapeutic dosing may mitigate these risks. Another challenge is the possibility of bacteria developing resistance to the phages. In this case, after three months of treatment, the bacteria did develop resistance to one of the phage preparations. However, this was effectively managed by switching to a different phage preparation, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of phage therapy.

This patient’s case offers hope for those suffering from Netherton Syndrome and similar conditions, where traditional treatments fall short. With ongoing research and careful monitoring, bacteriophage therapy could become a critical tool in managing chronic infections in patients with genetic predispositions to severe infections.

About the author

Hello there!

I'm Raphael Hans Lwesya. I have a deep interest in phage research and science communication. I strive to simplify complex ideas and present the latest phage-related research in an easy-to-digest format. Thank you for visiting The Phage blog. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me at [email protected].

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